Heard that Qatalyst pays $500k+ to first year associates and VPs are regularly pulling in a million. The numbers in the WSO comp database and Glassdoor seem to back this up.
If this is true why would their analysts ever leave to PE or VC? I know comp isn't the only factor but if you're at a place where you can make seven figures a year in your late 20s I would think that's hard to turn down
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That is true. People leave for lifestyle/WLB.
Holy fuck
True. Know someone who used to work there
Don't be ridiculous. Have friends there and those numbers are not even close to actual. Comp is comparable to or slightly higher than street. Why are these college kids pumping up Q lol
Typical base + bonus is a bit higher than street, but I know for a fact that there is a profit-sharing system there for associate and above when deals close. On good years (like last) comp does reach those numbers. Analyst comp however is just a little higher than street (180-220k) and they don't get to participate in profit-sharing. Not trying to pump the firm, just trying to give accurate info.
180-220 is off/outdated for first years After recent pay bumps. An1 total comp is going to be close to 280
Not pumping the firm, just relaying info from a very reliable source since there seems to be a lot of doubt about the figures.
Some numbers from last year: First year associates total comp was just under $700k, senior associate total comp was just under $1 million. On the analyst level, the 1st years made slightly under $300k, and 2nd year analysts pulled in ~$350k.
I know these numbers are very hard to believe (hence all the trolling below?) but bear in mind that this was in one of the best years ever for tech M&A. The fact that Qatalyst is private, purposefully maintains a low headcount, and only works on the largest deals, means that the employees make it rain in good years. Before throwing MS, please try to get in touch with someone who actually works there
“Comp is comparable to or slightly higher than street“
you clearly do not have friends at Q, or they are understating their comp. Source: Im close friends with a current analyst
lmao https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/how-seriously-do-you-take-this-f…
Completely vouch that. I know a few 2nd year analysts and they pull in 200-250K.
With pay bumps that actually seems to be understating. No wonder many people there don’t seem to enthusiastic about PE
Qatalyst is by far the best firm on the street in terms of comp. 250k+ for analysts, 500k+ for associates easily. They are more selective/prestigious than any other banks on the street, and nobody leaves to pursue buyside opportunities because they pay better than any MFs.
Why is this getting MS? I know a couple of people there and it's true
Those who left are because of wlb but never because of pay
*** Centerview Partners has entered the chat ***
Qatalyst pays more than CVP
Found the Qatalyst analyst
Not sure why this is getting MS. Spoke to someone at the firm and it’s true. Good luck getting an offer though.
Edit: just because people are salty that they make less and throw MS doesn’t mean that it’s false
It’s ironic that people threw MS at this because they thought the numbers were too high, when in reality they’re actually lower than actual figures at the moment
The few people I know that have left, left because of WLB or lack thereof. Profit-sharing system is real, and like some of the other industry boutiques that have it, when the firm has a good year employees benefit greatly.
I spoke with a few VPs at Qatalyst and they told me that they pull $1-2 million (all cash) consistently. MDs there make $10-15m from what I heard.
I heard the same from a VP at Q.. wild
highly doubt that...MDs there are at most making $5-6mm, VPs maybe $1-1.5mm
Can confirm that this is true at the VP level from my network
Can confirm - George Butros took home more than $400mn last year and MDs $30-50mn each. Shouldn't be surprised if analysts took home $4-500k.
How does that make sense economically from deal fees?
It's a private company with only 60 employees with an average deal size close to ~$6bn
Right, an analyst 1 can accurately confirm the numbers because the MDs at Q are known to generously share info about their comp
Can confirm. Close friends with one of their analysts. He told me he made close to $400k.
can confirm Analyst base is 69k with bonus of 420k
source?
source?
It’s in the Deez annual compensation report
Can confirm. I've seen several Qatalyst analysts driving Aston Martins and Ferraris to work
Can confirm - personally know several analysts who retired after A2A promo
The thread got funnier as I scrolled down, and this sent me over the edge belting laughter.
lmfao, each comment just built up to this.
can confirm - did a 3-year stint there and now I am happily retired in Honolulu
Are they hiring?
have a friend who’s an analyst there, pay is definitely above street. In terms of “why would you ever leave,” the people there are incredibly passionate about tech (unsurprisingly), so exits to growth equity/VC are not that uncommon for people looking for exposure to different skills/experiences.
Y'all be killing me with the can confirms lol
Can confirm exec assistants pull in 200k regularly.
Just a fun and shocking fact but it's actually not uncommon for exec assistants for management at medium-size start-ups to make $100K+. Knew a girl in her late 20s who was one of two exec assistants for the CEO of the company I was working for and she showed me her contract. She also noted that exec assistants normally don't get a raise though so she might be stuck at that amount for a long time.
I know you're trying to be funny, but competent executive assistants do pull in that much. For context the EA for the CEO at my firm makes somewhere in the high 1's and we're definitely not at the top in terms of comp.
Can confirm. Analysts/Associates leave becuase they make too much money and folks on WSO don't believe them. So they end up taking jobs in MM PE so that they can actively participate in WSO discussions.
What does this even mean
Don't worry bro, he can confirm.
Making too much money is not prestigious enough
Nobody knows what it means but its provocative
This thread is honestly hilarious
Definitely one of the better threads on this forum lately.
Serious reply from a former analyst that left for a top VC: this was many years ago and the top first year analysts cleared $200K+, so I wouldn't be surprised that it is higher now. Associate base and bonus is above street, but not that much higher than EBs. The difference is that you get to participate in the firm's profit sharing, i.e. "partnership" program that the firm will give you a loan to buy into at the associate level and above. In a year where Qatalyst is generating $300-500M revenue with a small handful of employees (you can go count it on the website), you can do the math on profit sharing. $500K for associates and close to $1M for VPs all in is certainly possible and wouldn't be surprised if overall cash comp has gone up as well since then.
thank you for the insight! Can I ask how long ago this was?
Would associate 1 clear 500k or is that more senior associate? Assq perhaps 160k base, 200k bonus, 100k profit sharing - does that sound right?
Also, any comment on WLB?
Thank you!!
VP1 make between 1-2 mil, 2nd year VPs clear 2mil
can confirm that Global IBD head Richard Wad was able to get analysts a $500 daily seamless budget
can confirm that qatalyst has hit BB status
Most of you are probably going off total hearsay but I did have a classmate who got an offer from them (post-MBA associate) with 200k base for stub year, and other associates had said expected 125-150% bonus. Not saying it happens every year, but early associate years should at least sometimes be 450-500k.
strong deal flow (both in terms of volume and value) + lean structure, you do the math
Serious reply - a close friend was an analyst there years back (has since left for VC). Comp is definitely well above street and there is a profit sharing system for employees. First year analysts regularly make above 200k. You answered your own question for why analysts leave for other roles. Many of the analysts there are passionate about tech/investing and the exits available are top notch. So they either leave because of their interest in other roles or because they believe long-term they can outperform those who stay in banking
I don’t know where people get numbers or what people have heard from a friend of a friend of a friend but here are ranges for a solid year. Believe it or not but these are the numbers for folks that are actually interested
associate 1: $175 base + $200-250ish bonus + $50-75k profit sharing, all cash
Associate 3: $225 base + $400-450 bonus + $150-200 profit sharing all cash
VP base is $275 across all levels. Mid level Vp last year got around $600-650 bonus, 275-325 profit sharing all cash
I would imagine MDs are $2.5-3.5 a year all in and the huge upside really comes in as a partner where I imagine partners are Making $5-20+ Based on contributions for a given year, excluding George of course who makes a lot more
for the question on WLB, you’re going to work hard obviously. There are no weekend policies and it’s not uncommon for analysts and associates to be working both Saturday and Sunday. I would say culture is still better than a BB and the quality of work is a night and day difference. You’re not sitting around at the office all night for FaceTime or waiting for comments but there is a lot of real, stressful work to do most of the time and you will run on lean teams. Just look at the number of deals done a year, and assume that at least 3-4x the number of announced transactions were worked on and look at the size of the team. You can do the math. I would argue a skill set an analyst develops at Qatalyst is second to none on Wall Street, you will just see and be exposed to a lot more than your peers elsewhere, and you will get paid for your work but you’re going to work around the clock for 2 years or longer if you stay. Think you would be hard pressed to find a current or former analyst that would complain about consistently doing busy/ mundane work or lack of solid experience.
Loled hard at this
This guy definitely drinks the kool-aid
Your figures for VP and MD are low
Any intel on Qatalyst London? Deal flow, exit opps?
Can confirm (from a source close to the company) George Boutro’s dog regularly makes $300K+, all treats and none of it deferred.
Is the dog a target breed?
can confirm all of the above. source: roommate knows a guy
Can confirm my roommate who goes to a well
Known state school think: ( ASU, PSU, UA) received an offer from Q. He was known around campus to be the best dog banger - as stated above George Butrous’ dog highly recommended him. Think (cock, beastiality, dog)
A lot of non-Qatalyst EB analysts on this thread salty about their comp
Pretty funny to see honestly
Have they already given FT offers?
What does Frank make?
Not sure why there’s so much trolling on this thread. Base pay for Analyst 1 is 120k, bonuses this year are expected to be 120-130 (paid in summer). Qatalyst doesn’t do “buckets” for bonuses; analysts all make the same bonus. Signing bonus is 20k and there was an additional EOY bonus because of strong performance (30k for An1).
how does pay scale for AN2/ASO1?
An2 will likely be close to 400k this summer since there were special holiday bonuses for strong performance
Have a buddy who works there, can confirm analyst base is $130 billion
Wow you’re so hilarious!
Edit: he edited his comment. It said some stupid troll comment like $150 million base. What an idiot
What?
Also 100% bonus
After completing 3 years at Qatalyst you become a CFA Charterholder without taking the exam.
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